ICSE Class 10 Syllabus 2028 Biology

ICSE
INDIAN CERTIFICATE OF
SECONDARY EDUCATION
EXAMINATION
YEAR 2028

SCIENCE
BIOLOGY
(52)

Developed by:
Research, Development and Curriculum Division (RDCD)
CISCE

January 2026
____________________________________________________________________________________________

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Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE)

MISSION STATEMENT

The Council for the Indian School Certificate
Examinations is committed to serving the nation's
children, through high quality educational
endeavours, empowering them to contribute towards
a humane, just and pluralistic society, promoting
introspective living, by creating exciting learning
opportunities, with a commitment to excellence.

ETHOS OF CISCE

Trust and fair play.
Minimum monitoring.
Allowing schools to evolve their own niche.
Catering to the needs of the children.
Giving freedom to experiment with new ideas
and practices.
Diversity and plurality - the basic strength for
evolution of ideas.
Schools to motivate pupils towards the
cultivation of:
Excellence - The Indian and Global
experience.
Values - Spiritual and cultural - to be the bedrock
of the educational experience.
Schools to have an 'Indian Ethos', strong roots in
the national psyche and be sensitive to national
aspirations.

CLASS X
There will be one paper of two hours duration of 80 marks and Internal Assessment of practical work carrying
20 marks.
1. Basic Biology
(i) Structure of chromosome.
Basic structure of chromosome with elementary understanding of terms such as chromatin, chromatid,
gene structure of DNA and centromere.
(ii) Cell Cycle and Cell Division.
Cell cycle – Interphase (G 1 , S, G 2 ) and Mitotic phase.
Cell Division:
● Mitosis and its stages in Animal and Plant cells.
● Difference between Mitosis in Plant cells and Animal cells.
● A basic understanding of Meiosis as a reduction division (stages not required).
● A brief idea of homologous chromosomes.
● Significance and major differences between mitotic and meiotic division.

2. Plant Physiology
(i) Absorption by roots, imbibition, diffusion and osmosis; endosmosis, exosmosis, osmotic pressure, root
pressure; semi permeable membrane, selectively permeable membrane, turgidity and flaccidity;
plasmolysis and deplasmolysis; the absorption of water and minerals; active and passive transport (in
brief); The rise of water up to the xylem; Forces responsible for ascent of sap.
● Understanding of the processes related to absorption of water by the roots.
● Characteristics of roots, which make them suitable for absorbing water.
● Structure of a single full-grown root hair.
● Tonicity of solutions, concepts of hypotonic, hypertonic and isotonic solutions.
● A general idea of Cohesive forces, Adhesive forces and transpirational pull.
● Experiments to show osmosis.
● Experiments to show the absorption and conduction of water through the xylem.
(ii) Transpiration: The process and its significance. Ganong’s potometer and its limitations. The factors
affecting rate of transpiration. Experiments on transpiration. A brief idea of guttation and bleeding.
● Concept of transpiration and its importance to plants.
● Kinds of transpiration.
● Experiments related to transpiration:
(a) Loss in weight of a potted plant or a leafy shoot in a test tube as a result of transpiration.
(b) Use of cobalt chloride paper to demonstrate unequal rate of transpiration in a dorsiventral leaf.
● Mechanism of stomatal transpiration on the basis of potassium ion exchange theory.
● Adaptations in plants to reduce transpiration.
● A brief idea of guttation and bleeding.
(iii) Photosynthesis: The process and its importance to life in general; experiments to show the necessity of
light, carbon dioxide, chlorophyll, formation of starch and release of oxygen; carbon cycle.
The process and significance of Photosynthesis.
● The internal structure of chloroplast to be explained to give an idea of the site of light and dark
reactions.
● Opening and closing of stomata based on potassium ion exchange theory.
● Overall balanced chemical equation to represent photosynthesis.

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● Introduction of the terms "photochemical" for light phase and "biosynthetic" for dark phases.
● Light reaction - activation of chlorophyll followed by photolysis of water, release of O 2 , formation of
ATP (photophosphorylation) and NADPH.
● Dark reaction - only combination of hydrogen released by NADP with CO 2 to form glucose. (detailed
equations are not required).
● Adaptations in plants for photosynthesis.
● Experiments with regard to the factors essential for photosynthesis; emphasis on destarching and the
steps involved in starch test.
● A diagrammatic representation of “carbon cycle”.
(iv) Chemical coordination in Plants: A general study of plant growth regulators; Tropic movements in plants.
● Brief idea of the physiological effects of Auxins, Gibberellins, Cytokinin, Abscisic acid and Ethylene
in regulating the growth of plants.
● Basic understanding of the tropic movements in plants with reference to – Phototropism, Geotropism,
Hydrotropism, Thigmotropism and Chemotropism (supported with suitable examples).
● Demonstration of geotropism with the help of Clinostat.

3. Human Anatomy and Physiology
(i) Respiratory System: Organs; mechanism of breathing; tissue respiration, heat production.
● Structures of the respiratory system.
● Differences between anaerobic respiration in plants and in man.
● Role of diaphragm and intercostal muscles in breathing to provide a clear idea of the breathing
process.
● Brief idea of gaseous transport and tissue respiration.
● Brief understanding of respiratory volumes.
● Effect of altitude on breathing; asphyxiation and hypoxia.
(ii) Circulatory System: Blood and lymph, the structure and working of the heart, blood vessels, circulation
of blood (only names of the main blood vessels entering and leaving the heart, liver, kidney and lungs).
Lymphatic system.
● Composition of blood (structure and functions of RBC, WBC and platelets).
● Definitions of erythropenia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, polycythaemia, leucocytosis,
thrombocytosis.
● Brief idea of tissue fluid and lymph.
● Increase in efficiency of mammalian red blood cells due to absence of certain organelles, reasons for
the same.
● A brief idea of blood coagulation.
● Structure and working of the heart along with names of the main blood vessels entering and leaving
the heart, the liver, the kidney and the lungs.
● A brief idea of natural pacemaker of heart-SA node.
● Concept of systole and diastole; concept of double circulation.
● Brief idea of pulse and blood pressure.
● Blood vessels: artery, vein and capillary to be explained with the help of diagrams to bring out the
relationship between their structure and function.
● Brief idea of the lymphatic organs: spleen and tonsils.
● ABO blood group system, Rh factor.
● Significance of the hepatic portal system.

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(iii) Excretory System: A brief introduction to the excretory organs; parts of the urinary system; structure and
function of the kidneys; blood vessels associated with kidneys; structure and function of nephron.
● A brief idea of different excretory organs in the human body and their structures.
● A brief idea of ultra-filtration (emphasis on the diagram of malpighian capsule); selective
reabsorption and tubular secretion in relation to the composition of blood plasma and urine formed.
● Normal constituents of urine.
● Abnormal constituents of urine with reference to blood, glucose, protein, bile.
● Brief idea of Gout, kidney stones and Dialysis.
● Formation of Urine in Summer, winter and in cholera patients.
(iv) Nervous system: Structure of Neuron; central, autonomous and peripheral nervous system (in brief); brain
and spinal cord; reflex action and how it differs from voluntary action.
Sense organs - Eye: Structure, functions, defects and corrective measures: Ear: Parts and functions of the
ear.
● Parts of a neuron, types of neurons.
● Nerve, Types of Nerves and synapse.
● Sympathetic and para sympathetic nervous systems.
● Brief idea of the mechanism of transmission of nerve impulse.
● Various parts of the external structure of the brain and its primary parts: Medulla Oblongata,
Cerebrum, Cerebellum, Thalamus, Hypothalamus and Pons; their functions.
● Reference to the distribution of white and gray matter in Brain and Spinal cord and placement of
parts of neuron.
● Voluntary and involuntary actions – meaning with examples.
● Diagrammatic explanation of the reflex arc, showing the pathway from receptor to effector.
● A brief idea of the peripheral and autonomic nervous system in regulating body activities.
● Differences between natural and acquired reflex.
● External and Internal structure and functions of the Eye and Ear and their various parts.
● A brief idea of stereoscopic vision, adaptation and accommodation of eye.
● Defects of the eye (myopia,hyperopia/hypermetropia, presbyopia, astigmatism and cataract) and
corrective measures (diagrams included for myopia and hyperopia only).
● The course of perception of sound in human ear.
● Role of ear in maintaining balance of the body.
(v) Endocrine System: General study of the following glands: Adrenal, Pancreas, Thyroid and Pituitary.
Endocrine and Exocrine glands.
● Differences between Endocrine and Exocrine glands.
● Exact location and shape of the endocrine glands in the human body.
● Hormones secreted by the following glands: Pancreas: insulin and glucagon; Thyroid: only thyroxin;
Adrenal gland: Cortical hormones and adrenaline; Pituitary: growth hormone, tropic hormones,
ADH and oxytocin.
● Effects of hypo secretion and hyper secretion of hormones.
● A brief idea of Feedback mechanism with reference to TSH.
(vi) Reproductive System: Organs, fertilisation, functions of placenta in the growth of the embryo, Menstrual
cycle.
● Functions of Male and Female reproductive organs and male accessory glands. An idea of secondary
sexual characters.
● Structure and functions of the various parts of the sperm and egg.
● Explanation of the terms: Fertilisation, implantation, placenta, gestation and parturition.
● A brief idea of the role of placenta in nutrition, respiration and excretion of the embryo; its endocrinal
function.

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● Functions of Foetal membranes and amniotic fluid.
● Outline of menstrual cycle.
● Menarche and menopause.
● Role of Sex hormones: Testosterone, Oestrogen, Progesterone and Prolactin in reproduction.
● Identical and fraternal twins: meaning and differences only.

4. Genetics
(i) The three laws of Mendel.
(ii) Monohybrid cross – phenotype and genotype.
(iii)Dihybrid cross – Only phenotype.
(iv) The following terms to be covered: gene, allele, heterozygous, homozygous, dominant, recessive,
mutation, variation, phenotype, genotype, autosomes, allosomes in humans.
(v) Sex determination in human beings.
(vi) Sex linked inheritance of diseases (only X-linked like haemophilia and colour blindness.)

5. Population
Population explosion in India; need for adopting control measures - population control.
(i) Main reasons for the sharp rise in human population in India and in the world.
(ii) A brief explanation of the terms: demography, population density, birth rate, death rate and growth rate
of population.
(iii) Problems faced due to population explosion: unemployment, over exploitation of natural resources, low
per capita income, price rise, pollution, unequal distribution of wealth.
(iv) Population education.
(v) Methods of population control: Surgical methods – Tubectomy and vasectomy, a brief understanding of
the use of condoms, contraceptive pills, intrauterine devices (IUDs) to prevent pregnancy.

6. Environmental concerns & Pollution
(i) Brief idea about various environmental issues & concerns. Types and sources of pollution; major
pollutants.
● Air: Vehicular, industrial, burning garbage, brick kilns.
● Water: Household detergents, sewage, industrial waste, oil spills.
● Soil: Industrial waste, urban commercial and domestic waste, chemical fertilisers.
● Biomedical waste – used and discarded needles, syringes, soiled dressings etc. Radiation: X-rays;
radioactive fallout from nuclear plants.
● Noise: Motor Vehicles, industrial establishments, construction Sites, loudspeakers etc., ways to
minimize noise pollution.
(ii) Biodegradable and Non-biodegradable wastes.
Biodegradable wastes: meaning and example; paper, vegetable peels, etc.
Non-biodegradable wastes: meaning and example; plastics, glass, Styrofoam etc. Pesticides like DDT etc.
(iii)Effects of pollution on climate, environment, human health and other organisms; control measures.
● Brief explanation of: Greenhouse effect and Global warming, Acid rain, Ozone layer depletion.
● Measures to control pollution:
- Use of unleaded petrol / CNG in automobiles.
- Switching off engines at traffic signal lights.
- Social forestry.
- Setting of sewage treatment plants.
- Ban on polythene and plastics.
- Organic farming.

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- Euro Bharat vehicular standard.
(A brief idea of the above measures)
● A brief mention of “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan”- A national campaign for Clean India.

INTERNAL ASSESSMENT OF PRACTICAL WORK
The practical work is designed to test the ability of the candidates to make an accurate observation from specimens
of plants and animals.

PLANT LIFE
(i) Observation of permanent slides of stages of mitosis.
(ii) Experiments demonstrating:
● Diffusion: using potassium permanganate in water.
● Osmosis: Thistle Funnel experiment and potato osmoscope.
● Absorption: using a small herbaceous plant.
(iii) Experiments on Transpiration:
● demonstration of the process using a Bell Jar.
● demonstration of unequal transpiration in a dorsiventral leaf using cobalt chloride paper.
● demonstration of uptake of water and the rate of transpiration using Ganong’s potometer.
(iv) Experiments on Photosynthesis:
● to show the necessity of light, carbon dioxide and chlorophyll for photosynthesis.
● to show the release of O 2 during photosynthesis using Hydrilla / Elodea.
ANIMAL LIFE
(i) Identification of the structures of the urinary system, heart and kidney (internal structure) and brain (external
view) through models and charts.
(ii) The identification of different types of blood cells under a microscope.
(iii) Identification of the internal structure of the Ear and Eye (through models and charts).
(iv) Identification and location of selected endocrine glands: Adrenal, Pancreas, Thyroid and Pituitary glands with
the help of a model or chart.
EVALUATION
The practical work/project work are to be evaluated by the subject teacher and by an External Examiner.
(The External Examiner may be a teacher nominated by the Head of the school, who could be from the faculty,
but not teaching the subject in the relevant section/class. For example, a teacher of Biology of Class VIII may
be deputed to be an External Examiner for Class X, Biology projects.)
The Internal Examiner and the External Examiner will assess the practical work/project work independently.
Award of marks (20 Marks)
Subject Teacher (Internal Examiner) 10 marks
External Examiner 10 marks
The total marks obtained out of 20 are to be sent to CISCE by the Head of the school.
The Head of the school will be responsible for the online entry of marks on CISCE’s CAREERS portal by the due
date.

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INTERNAL ASSESSMENT IN SCIENCE - GUIDELINES FOR MARKING WITH GRADES
Criteria Preparation Procedure/ Testing Observation Inference/ Results Presentation

Grade I Follows instructions (written, Analyses problem Records Processes data without format. Presentation is accurate
(4 marks) oral, diagrammatic) with systematically. Recognises data/observations Recognises and comments and good. Appropriate
understanding; modifies if a number of variables and without being given a upon sources of error. techniques are well
needed. Familiarity with and attempts to control them to format. Comments Can deal with unexpected used.
safe use of apparatus, materials, build a logical plan of upon, recognises use of results, suggesting
techniques. investigation. instruments, degree of modifications.
accuracy. Recording is
systematic.
Grade II Follows instructions to perform Specifies sequence of Makes relevant Processes data appropriately Presentation is
(3 marks) experiment with step-by-step operation; gives reasons for observations. No as per a given format. Draws adequate. Appropriate
operations. Awareness of safety. any change in procedure. assistance is needed for qualitative conclusions techniques are used.
Familiarity with apparatus, Can deal with two recording format that is consistent with required
materials and techniques. variables, controlling one. appropriate. results.

Grade III Follows instructions to perform a Develops simple Detailed instructions Processes data approximately Presentation is
(2 marks) single operation at a time. Safety experimental strategy. needed to record with a detailed format reasonable, but
awareness. Familiarity with Trial and error observations. Format provided. Draws observations disorganised in some
apparatus & materials. modifications made to required to record qualitative conclusions as places. Overwriting;
proceed with the results. required. rough work is untidy.
experiment.
Grade IV Follows some instructions to Struggles through the Format required to Even when detailed format is Presentation is poor and
(1 mark) perform a single practical experiment. Follows very record observations/ provided, struggles or makes disorganised but
operation. Casual about safety. obvious experimental readings but tends to errors while processing data. follows an acceptable
Manages to use apparatus & strategy. make mistakes in Reaches conclusions with sequence. Rough work
materials. recording. help. missing or untidy.
Grade V Not able to follow instructions or Cannot proceed with the Even when format is Cannot process results, nor Presentation
(0 marks) proceed with practical work experiment without help given, recording is draw conclusions, even with unacceptable;
without full assistance. Unaware from time to time. faulty or irrelevant. considerable help. disorganised, untidy/
of safety. poor. Rough work
missing.

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